AleksandarN
Starter
What was he to do poor Kraft.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-050629ring,1,7418283.story?coll=chi-news-hed
Putin gets Super gift
By Paul Doyle
The Hartford Courant
Published June 29, 2005
With 124 diamonds, the Patriots' latest Super Bowl ring is among the most gaudy and expensive of its kind.
And apparently, the ring has enough bling, bling to catch the eye of the most somber of ex-KGB agents. Russian president Vladimir Putin, hardly a man who flashes diamonds, was taken with the ring worn by Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
When Kraft and a group of American executives shared face time with Putin Saturday, the NFL's most successful owner handed Putin the ring. Putin fitted his finger with the ring, removed it and slipped it into his pocket.
Did Kraft intend to give Putin the ring as a gift? Or did Putin misunderstand the gesture and assume the ring was his for the taking?
The story gained steam Wednesday, when reports of the incident surfaced. A story in the New York Sun indicated Kraft did not mean to give the ring to Putin, but wasn't sure how to ask for the bauble back.
Kraft was traveling Wednesday and a Patriots spokesman said it would all be explained when he returns next week.
But by the end of the day, Kraft had issued a statement. The ring was a gift, Kraft explained.
"At the end of a very productive, three-hour business meeting with President Putin ... I showed the president my most recent Super Bowl ring," Kraft said. "Upon seeing the ring, President Putin, a great and knowledgeable sports fan, was clearly taken with its uniqueness. At that point, I decided to give him the ring as a symbol of the respect and admiration that I have for the Russian people and the leadership of President Putin."
The 4.94-carat ring cost substantially more than $15,000, according to Patriots spokesman Stacey James. Each ring weighs 4.06 ounces and is the biggest of the Patriots' three Super Bowl rings.
When Kraft presented the rings to his players at a dinner party at his Brookline, Mass., home July 12, the team's press release boasted "These rings pack plenty of bling."
Kraft, 63, was part of a contingent of American executives meeting with Putin at Konstantinovsky Palace Saturday. The group included News Corp. head Rupert Murdoch and Citigroup chairman Stanford Weill, who is one of Kraft's close friends.
After a two hour meeting, Putin held a press conference. Posing with Kraft, Weill and Murdoch, Putin admired the ring.
"It's a Super Bowl ring ... it's a very good ring," Kraft reportedly said.
According to the Russian newspaper Kommersant, Putin "carefully tried it on, but when he noticed that photo and video cameras were pointed at him, quickly took it off and held it in the fist."
And before leaving the room, Putin pocketed the ring.
The Sun cited anonymous sources in reporting Kraft was searching for a tactful way to ask for the ring. But with the Patriots swarmed with inquiries Wednesday, Kraft relented and issued his statement.
"I have ancestors from Russia, so it added significance for me to know that something so cherished would reside at the Kremlin along with other special gifts given to Russian presidents," Kraft said. "It was truly an act of serendipity and one that I am honored to have experienced. It touched me to see President Putin's reaction to the ring and I felt, emotionally, that it was the right way to conclude an exceptional meeting."
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-050629ring,1,7418283.story?coll=chi-news-hed
Putin gets Super gift
By Paul Doyle
The Hartford Courant
Published June 29, 2005
With 124 diamonds, the Patriots' latest Super Bowl ring is among the most gaudy and expensive of its kind.
And apparently, the ring has enough bling, bling to catch the eye of the most somber of ex-KGB agents. Russian president Vladimir Putin, hardly a man who flashes diamonds, was taken with the ring worn by Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
When Kraft and a group of American executives shared face time with Putin Saturday, the NFL's most successful owner handed Putin the ring. Putin fitted his finger with the ring, removed it and slipped it into his pocket.
Did Kraft intend to give Putin the ring as a gift? Or did Putin misunderstand the gesture and assume the ring was his for the taking?
The story gained steam Wednesday, when reports of the incident surfaced. A story in the New York Sun indicated Kraft did not mean to give the ring to Putin, but wasn't sure how to ask for the bauble back.
Kraft was traveling Wednesday and a Patriots spokesman said it would all be explained when he returns next week.
But by the end of the day, Kraft had issued a statement. The ring was a gift, Kraft explained.
"At the end of a very productive, three-hour business meeting with President Putin ... I showed the president my most recent Super Bowl ring," Kraft said. "Upon seeing the ring, President Putin, a great and knowledgeable sports fan, was clearly taken with its uniqueness. At that point, I decided to give him the ring as a symbol of the respect and admiration that I have for the Russian people and the leadership of President Putin."
The 4.94-carat ring cost substantially more than $15,000, according to Patriots spokesman Stacey James. Each ring weighs 4.06 ounces and is the biggest of the Patriots' three Super Bowl rings.
When Kraft presented the rings to his players at a dinner party at his Brookline, Mass., home July 12, the team's press release boasted "These rings pack plenty of bling."
Kraft, 63, was part of a contingent of American executives meeting with Putin at Konstantinovsky Palace Saturday. The group included News Corp. head Rupert Murdoch and Citigroup chairman Stanford Weill, who is one of Kraft's close friends.
After a two hour meeting, Putin held a press conference. Posing with Kraft, Weill and Murdoch, Putin admired the ring.
"It's a Super Bowl ring ... it's a very good ring," Kraft reportedly said.
According to the Russian newspaper Kommersant, Putin "carefully tried it on, but when he noticed that photo and video cameras were pointed at him, quickly took it off and held it in the fist."
And before leaving the room, Putin pocketed the ring.
The Sun cited anonymous sources in reporting Kraft was searching for a tactful way to ask for the ring. But with the Patriots swarmed with inquiries Wednesday, Kraft relented and issued his statement.
"I have ancestors from Russia, so it added significance for me to know that something so cherished would reside at the Kremlin along with other special gifts given to Russian presidents," Kraft said. "It was truly an act of serendipity and one that I am honored to have experienced. It touched me to see President Putin's reaction to the ring and I felt, emotionally, that it was the right way to conclude an exceptional meeting."
